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podzol

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

IPA: /ˈpɒdzəl/

KK: /ˈpɒdzəl/

noun
Definition

A type of soil that is formed in cool, wet areas, often found under forests, characterized by layers that have been leached of nutrients and contain organic material.


Example

Podzol soils are commonly found in northern regions where coniferous forests grow.


Conversation
Sloth A
Have you ever heard of podzol soil?
Sloth B
Yeah, I think it's found in cooler, more humid areas, right?
Sloth A
Exactly! It's interesting how it forms under coniferous forests.
Sloth B
Totally, I love learning about different types of soil.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
soil
earth
substrate
Antonyms
rock
sand
gravel
Root Explanation

Podzol originates from Russian 'podzol', where 'pod-' means 'under' and 'zol' means 'ash' or 'soil'. The term refers to a type of soil that is characterized by a leached layer beneath the surface, often appearing as a lighter color due to the removal of minerals and organic matter.

Memory Tip

Think of 'under' ('pod-') and 'ash' or 'soil' ('zol') to remember that podzol refers to soil that has a layer beneath the surface, often lighter in color.

Visually Confused Words
podsol
pool
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